Hillsborough County Cold Weather Shelters Open Tonight – December 21

Hillsborough County cold weather shelters will open this afternoon (Dec. 21) at the times listed below for the homeless and those who live in homes without adequate heat. This is the first time that cold weather shelters have opened this winter.

The shelters are:

Brandon Community Center, 510 E. Sadie St. in Brandon
This shelter opens at 5:30 p.m. and is for homeless individuals and families with children in the Brandon Area.
Phone: 813-635-8179

Metropolitan Ministries, 2010 N. Florida Ave. in Tampa
This shelter opens at 4 p.m. and is for families.
After hours phone: 813-209-1077

Salvation Army, 1514 N. Florida Ave. in Tampa
This shelter opens at 4 p.m. and is only for adults.
After hours phone: 813-221-4440

Wimauma Community Center, 5705 Hillsborough St. in Wimauma
This shelter opens at 6 p.m. and is for adults and families.

Phone: 813-635-3500

Most shelters will close tomorrow around 7 a.m.

Hillsborough County coordinates with these organizations to help provide cold weather shelters when temperatures are predicted to reach 32 or below degrees, including wind chill. Last winter, cold weather shelters opened 8 days, assisting 1,599 individuals.

Donations

The Brandon Community Center, Jackson Springs Recreation Center, and Wimauma Community Center are accepting donations of shelter supplies, such as blankets, disinfectant wipes, disposable cups, coffee, creamer, paper plates, plastic utensils, and sugar. Those wishing to donate supplies should contact each individual shelter.

Meals for the shelters are provided through Metropolitan Ministries. Those wishing to donate non-perishable items should contact Metropolitan Ministries at 813-209-1000.